20 Ways to Touch Your Database This Year!

Don’t lose another opportunity to touch your database this year. Trying figure out how to keep your database thriving? Use these great holidays as a chance to stay in front of your clients all year long!

Call AnotherMe Virtual Assistants today to find out how we can help you with marketing!

New Year’s Day – January 1st, 2018                    Independence Day – July 4th, 2018 

Valentine’s Day – February 14th, 2018               Halloween – October 31st, 2018 

Daylight Savings – March 11th, 2018                   Thanksgiving – November 22nd, 2018 

Memorial Day – May 28th, 2018                           Christmas – December 25th, 2018 

Tired of the traditional holiday postcards & emails? Here are a few interesting  and fun holidays that your clients will enjoy! Get specific- if you have a client who loves beer, send them something funny they will relate to and remember. Not creative? Let AnotherMe help you design a postcard/email!

National Margarita Day – Feb. 22nd, 2018          National Dog Day – August 26th, 2018

Pi Day – March 14th, 2018                                     Drink Beer Day – Sept. 28th, 2018 

Earth Day – April 22nd, 2018                                  Make a Difference Day – Oct. 27th, 2018

Cinco De Mayo – May 5th, 2018                            Veteran’s Day – November 11th, 2018

National Donut Day – June 1st, 2018                  Small Business Saturday – Nov. 24th, 2018

National Ice Cream Day – July 15th, 2018              Ugly Sweater Day – December 21st, 2018

Want more holiday ideas? Check out http://www.holidayscalendar.com/

What are you waiting for? Your clients want to hear from you!

Don’t have the time? Call today!

Realtors Beware – Sellers Are Watching and Listening! 

With today’s technology advancements, there are many ways to keep an eye on your home while your away. However, many sellers are using new technology to listen in on buyers while their home is being shown. If you search for hidden cameras on Amazon.com, I am sure you will be stunned at the variety of options there are. From phone chargers to picture frames, it’s safe to say you are possibly being watched during your next showing!

Here are a few ways to tell if there are cameras in the home you are showing to your clients:

1. Use a RF detector.

These detection devices are pretty neat! They can pick up on active recording devices in a home. AKA, if you are being watched or recorded in real time, this device will know! They run around $100 and you can easily purchase one on Amazon. Keep in mind, if there is a recording device that runs off of a SD card instead of Wi-Fi, it won’t pick that device up.

2. Use your eyes!

This is one of your easiest options. A lot of homeowners have devices that stand out in plain sight or they are very obvious. Keep this in mind when showing that perfect house to your buyer and remind them to take the negotiation conversation outside!

3. Use a flashlight

Most of us have flashlights on our phones and they are a great way to look for cameras as well. Turn your flashlight on and pan around the house with it. You’ll be looking for a reflection. If you find one, you may have just found a hidden camera lens.

So, your best bet to protect your buyers interest when showing homes is to keep quiet when you are inside! You never know if you are being watched. Remind your clients to keep their comments to themselves when they are looking around and once you’re outside, let the comments flow!

Top 5 Reasons Realtors® should recommend Simplisafe!

Here at AnotherME our clients and their customers are very important to us and that includes your safety!                                                      Recently, we’ve been hearing amazing reviews about the company SimpliSafe and their DIY Home Security System. With even more bells and whistles than the top security companies out there, SimpliSafe is a product we highly recommend to our clients and here are the top five reasons why!  

1. No Contracts

With SimpliSafe, you are not locked in to a contract. You have the option to cancel your $14.99 monthly subscription to their 24/7 Home Security Monitoring at any time! Plus, they are so confident you’ll love your new DIY Security System, they will give you a full refund including return shipping within the first 60 days if you don’t!

2. Easy Setup

Unlike the security system industry competitors, SimpliSafe comes in a box shipped directly to your home for you to set up in minutes! That’s right, no annoying appointments with pushy salesmen, no tools and no stress! All you have to do is open the box, plug in the base station, mount the sensors and you are ready to protect your home!

3. 24/7 Alarm System Monitoring

With your monthly subscription, your home is protected around the clock! When a sensor detects a possible break-in, your system will sound off and alert SimpliSafe’s 24/7 Security Monitoring Center. Unless you cancel the alarm when the security specialist calls you, the police will be sent to your home right away!

4. Top Notch Technology

From water sensors that alert you of potential leaks to freeze sensors that tell you when your homes temperature has dropped below 41 degrees, you choose to protect your home in any way imaginable! You can also control your system from your phone, your computer, or a key fob! SimpliSafe products auto-update, work on wi-fi and the batteries hardly ever need to be replaced. The sensors are even pet-friendly; you seriously can’t go wrong with a system like this!

5. A la Carte Components

While you can choose from their pre-built packages ranging from basic ($229) to the all-inclusive “Haven” package ($489), you have the option to customize your own system! You’re required to have the base station and the wireless keypad and from there it’s up to you to add the features you want and need. Whether you have a tiny house or a mansion, SimpliSafe’s Build a System option is perfect for you! 

To learn more about the SimpliSafe DIY Home Security System, check out their website for reviews and more details at https://simplisafe.com/

Top 5 Reasons We Recommend MileIQ!

At AnotherME, we’re always looking out for busy real estate agents and their expenses. With MileIQ, it is now easier than ever to track your mileage to and from appointments. This app is a game changer for real estate agents. We know that you are always on the go and you need to track those miles! Here are the top 5 reasons why you should download MileIQ (https://www.mileiq.com/invite/DZFFD) smartphone today:

1. Tax Deductions!
While MileIQ tracks your miles to and from showings, it is creating a record perfect for tax deductions! No more worrying about writing down the miles, your mileage is automatically recorded for you into a secure cloud that is ready for your accountant.

2. Price!
MileIQ has a few pricing options. While there is a free plan with 40 trips per month, you’re going to want to pay the minimal monthly cost for their premium plan! You get unlimited trips and it cost the same as one of those fancy coffees except it’s monthly! And don’t forget, you get to write it off on your taxes too!

3. Simplicity!
Once you have the app setup, it is so simple! Taking your kid to soccer practice? Swipe left on the trip and mark it as a personal errand. Headed to a closing? Swipe left and it is in now in your tax deductible business category. Categorizing your trips will take you less than 30 seconds!

4. It runs in the background!
Not only does MileIQ take up very little space on your phone, it runs in the background! There is no need to worry about starting up the tracker every time you get in your car. Just make sure you have your GPS on & let MileIQ do the work!

5. Easy Customization!
MileIQ is tailored to fit every individual’s needs. Use the category customization feature to your advantage and you’ll have your very own organized record of every trip you’ve taken. Whether you’re headed to the office or meeting a client for lunch, the more you customize MileIQ, the easier your life will be!

It’s time to get organized and stop guesstimating your mileage! At AnotherME, we highly suggest this app to our clients!

To download MileIQ for free on your Android or iPhone, go to https://www.mileiq.com/invite/KECHL and start tracking your miles today!

Playing the Voicemail Game?

Do you feel like a pawn in the voice mail chess game? Call – Call Back? Message – Return Message? Check – Check Mate? Well, technology has come to our rescue!

SlyDial (www.slydial.com) is a free service for your land or mobile calls that allows you to connect immediately to your recipient’s mobile voice mail without waiting for four to six rings, their outgoing message, inevitblue phonesable prompts, blah, blah, blah.  SlyDial lets you go directly to voice mail.  Check Mate!

SlyDial is a real time-saver when when you need to share a bit of information and just don’t have time for a full conversation. It’s also a tool for discretion and consideration – ever disturb or distract someone when all you wanted to do was leave a quick voicemail? Like the times you remember that you need to return someone’s call… at midnight!  I hate it when that happens.

So here’s how it works: to use Slydial from a land line or a cellular phone, dial 267-Sly-Dial (267-759-3425) to leave a message for your intended recipient. The service is free to users who don’t mind listening to a little advertising, or you can pay a very modest subscription fee to avoid ads (look for the words “MYslydial Premium”.)

2 cell phones

You don’t have to join the premium service to use SlyDial – just enter the 267-759-3425 number on your phone and you’re in business. But if you want to use SlyDial apps for your iPhone (www.apple.com/iphone), BlackBerry (www.BlackBerry.com) and Windows Mobile Smartphones, you need to be a MYslydial Premium subscriber.

There’s lots of great information (check out the FAQs) at the SlyDial website that clearly explains the value of this very simple, very convenient communication solution.

I’m always looking for ways to save time here or there and to become more efficient in my business.  Slydial is a winning deal!

5 Personal Tasks You Can Delegate to your Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant is a valuable resource in your Real Estate business for help with listings, contracts, marketing and general admin tasks. But, have you considered asking your VA to help out with some of your personal tasks as well.  When you have a relationship and a trust with your VA, handling personal tasks is just one more way you can leverage your time and resources.

Being that your Assistant is “Virtual”, she’s not available to pick up the kids, drop off the dry cleaning or deliver cupcakes to the brownie troop.  But she might be able to help you with any or all of the following!

Birthday Cards/Presents: With so many on-line programs that keep up with birthdays, a Virtual Assistant can easily log into your Plaxo, Facebook or SendOutCards accounts and send an E-Card or even a paper  Birthday card to a contact in your database.  Take a few minutes to create a custom/personal message for each of your groups: acquaintance friends, church friends, networking groups, neighbors, etc. and let your VA send the cards on your behalf.  You can vary the message every few months or once a year.  Ordering gifts, flowers or gift cards on-line is one of the easiest ways to delegate.  “Please call X store and order X for my nephew.  Address in my Top Producer database. Thanks!”  That was Easy!

Research pricing and ordering: Are you the one who always volunteers to order or get pricing for a party, meeting or event?  Flowers, invitations, decorations, awards, promotional items, catering, signs, flyers, printing… the list goes on and on.  Of course you can call and get 3 quotes for a catering company along with their menus for your Rotary Club meeting the next day… but don’t you have to meet clients, attend an inspection or negotiate a contract?  Try handing it over to your VA.  She can research, organize the info and quotes and then put all the information in a nice presentation format!  You’ll be the hero in your group.

Virtual Assistant
Confirm/Reschedule appointments: If you’re on the go with a car full of people or an out of town client, it’s not easy to confirm or reschedule your personal appointments.  Text your VA and have her call your Dentist, Nail Salon, Accountant or next client to let them know you’re running late or need to reschedule.

Community, church or civic groups:

DataBase – Do you manage the database for your “group”?  This is an ideal task to delegate to a Virtual Assistant.  She can update the info, create a mailing list or labels, set up your database in an email program or do a search to find addresses for members.

Mailing – Just because your Assistant is “Virtual” doesn’t mean she can’t help with a mailing.  It takes a little coordination – which is easy for a good VA – and she can handle it all.  Printing, labels, stuffing, stamping and mailing!

So next time you are stressed out, wondering how you’re going to get it all done – ask your VA for a little extra help.

Real Estate Marketing

PC 100 Alden AveAnotherME Virtual Assistants offers Real Estate Marketing for both on-line and print media. From property flyers, postcards, listing booklets, feature cards to Real Estate Shows, Virtual Tours and email flyers.

Do you use a “template” flyer for your listings? If you don’t have an assistant to create your marketing pieces, let us design a template for you. A Listing Flyer Template includes all your information and logos in the basic design; and one that is easy to swap photos and descriptions for each of your listings. Using a template will save you time in getting up your listings set up and on the market. And will help you establish a marketing theme/brand.

Sending a video email to your sphere and top agents in your market area will give you leg up on your competition. Real Estate Shows is a wonderful program for Virtual Tours and property marketing. You can post your show to ActiveRain, your Blog, your MLS, REALTOR.com, and even email the show! Ask us about the special discount.

Check out this Real Estate Show of AnotherME Real Estate Marketing Samples!

Delegate So You Can Celebrate

As a real estate professional, you know that during the holiday season, your business begins to taper off while the stress of your personal life builds up.

Have you done your holiday shopping yet? What about wrapping all the presents? Which parties, company get-togethers, school functions and family gatherings will you attend? And of course, you’ve got to send your holiday cards, calendars and gift items to clients and prospects, as well as your family and friends.AnotherME Virtual Assistants

Back to your business… With the phone not ringing quite as much, this is the best  time of the year to take on all those administrative tasks you’ve been meaning to do; like working on your 2009 marketing plan, updating your contact database (crucial for holiday cards), revising your listing presentation, updating your buyers’ packet. Are your Listing and Closing checklists up to date? Do you have a “New Client Information” form?  Now’s the time to create one! (this is a great way to gather birthdays and email addresses)  Or perhaps get to work on that email campaign you’ve been putting off.

The holidays are for family and fun… and the perfect time to delegate those administrative tasks so that you can enjoy the season and all the special occasions. It’s a good time to start working with a Virtual Assistant who can  handle all the above-mentioned tasks, plus mailing cards and calendars. If you’ve hesitated in the past, why not prepare for the New Year by calling AnotherME and “Delegate so you can Celebrate!”

Let AnotherME help you put the “Happy” back in “Happy Holidays.”